Outside influence puts pressure on basketball

GOLD Coast basketballers face “significant” registration costs the higher they go up the representative ranks, while the code remains the poor cousin of outdoor sports.

That’s the view of Gold Coast Basketball Association general manager Joel McInnes, who admits it can be a struggle to keep fees low.

Speaking in response to the pleas of Olympic champion and Gold Coast Academy of Sport executive director Glynis Nunn to address the imbalance of grassroot sport funding, McInnes revealed players in his association paid about $500 for the winter competition.

That cost covers training, uniforms and other incidentals, with registration fees for players on top of that each year.

Then there is representative action. “(It’s a) significant cost to all parents,” said McInnes, whose Double Dribble basketball column appears in the Bulletin each Friday.

“If they play representative (games) they have to pay for that on top of this (general registration fees). It is usually about $800.

“We have to apply for grants (to keep costs down) but usually they are for equipment, not for uniforms.

“Teams usually go our into the community for raffles and fundraising to help.”

The fact basketball is played indoors, McInnes argues, means the sport is at the mercy of higher powers because a lot of funding is directed to outdoor codes.

“National and state governments usually give grants to the state and national bodies,” he said.

“It’s up to them to see where it trickles down too (but it) usually (goes to) recruitment and development of elite athletes.

“Gold Coast City Council are pretty engaged with its active and healthy programs, but the sports that require indoor facilities really don’t get much help as opposed to other sports that are played in parks.”